THE large scale northern breeding property Esmeralda Station has sold to Gunn Agri Partners, trading as Cunningham Cattle Company.

The sale price has not been released. However, Queensland Rural has had the property listed for private sale at $40 million on a walk-in, walk-out basis. Esmeralda was offered with 30,000 high grade Brahman cattle.

The 406,000-hectare (985,939 acre) lower gulf property located about 280km north of Richmond has been owned by Mick and Trisha Sheahan since 2001.

Marketing agent Troy Trevor from Queensland Rural, Ruralco Property said Esmeralda was planned to go to auction in March last year. However, due to adverse seasonal conditions the sale was postponed and the property was offered for private sale.

Esmeralda was offered with 30,000 high grade Brahman cattle.

Mr Trevor said there interest in the property came from overseas investors with an appetite to participate in the Australian beef industry.

“The property is renowned as a calf factory being able to carry 20,000 breeders,” Mr Trevor said.

“With the further development plans the purchasers have in place this will be increased significantly.”

The country features largely level frontage country along the main watercourses of the Yappar and Clara Rivers and Esmeralda Creek plus numerous tributaries. The open plains run back to sandy forest type country.

“The style of the country and the opportunity to wean a large number of calves from the quality herd of Brahman cattle on Esmeralda, as well the level of improvements and water infrastructure was the attraction for the buyers,” Mr Trevor said.

In December Gunn Agri also bought three cattle properties near Roma – Ballaroo (11,463ha), Ekari Park (13,239ha), and Fairview (11,393ha) – for $11m. The combined area is estimated to run 6000 cattle.